NRL awaiting government advice on coronavirus before making decision on matches
Author:
Brad Walter NRL.com Senior Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 13 Mar 2020, 11:57 AM
The NRL will wait until it receives advice from a meeting of Federal and State Governments on Friday before making any decision about the Telstra Premiership in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Commonwealth of Australian Governments meeting is being held in Sydney and following Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conference with the state premiers, the NRL will comply with any directives from the government about whether fans will be locked out of the competition.
NRL clubs were notified before the first round of the season kicked off on Thursday night to limit interaction with fans at matches.
Community visits may also be cancelled as part of measures brought in to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has led the NBA to suspend its season.
Players have been advised to limit mingling with fans prior to matches or on the field after full-time, where they often interact with friends, supporters and family members to sign autographs and have photos taken.
They have been encouraged to acknowledge their supporters from a distance by waving, giving the thumbs up or with raised arms.
The NBA has announced its season is on hiatus after Utah All-Star centre Rudy Gobert tested positive to COVID-19, while his Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell has also been diagnosed with the virus.
The Australian Formula One Grand Prix, due to be held in Melbourne this weekend, was officially called off on Friday morning while French Super League club Catalans will play their home match against Leeds on the weekend in a closed stadium.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett on Friday said he would be happy to play matches behind closed doors.
"I don’t think we need to play in front of crowds. We train pretty hard and we never get a crowd at training," he said.
"I know players well enough to know they are all competitive. If you tell them that no one is going to be there but it is going to be televised live throughout Australia then they will do their job.
"Crowds are important and they create atmosphere and all of that but it is a difficult time at the moment so if the decision is made to play without crowds then at home you’d still get the footy and I’m sure Channel Nine and Fox won’t lose any viewers over it."
Parramatta and Canterbury kicked off the season on Thursday night at Bankwest Stadium - more than 21,000 fans watched the Eels record an 8-2 victory.
The next match on the opening round schedule is at GIO Stadium at 6pm on Friday between Canberra and the Gold Coast followed by the opening of Townsville's new Queensland Country Bank Stadium when the Cowboys are due to host the Broncos at 8.05pm (AEDT).
A set of guidelines was issued to all 16 NRL clubs on Thursday, which also includes restricting access to dressing rooms to players and match-day staff only.
In the memo issued by NRL CEO Todd Greenberg to the clubs, he advised them to take reasonable steps to limit club-organised player contact with community organisations such as hospitals and schools.
He also advised the clubs to take the advice of their chief medical officers on enhanced medical and hygiene initiatives, such as regularly cleaning surfaces in training areas with antiseptic solutions, thorough handwashing, ensuring food preparation is done to the highest levels and preventing the sharing of water bottles.
"Fundamentally our priority has got to be to protect the health and safety of our players and particularly our fans," Greenberg
told 2GB radio on Thursday.
"You won't see players going to the sides of the field and having photos and autographs. It is ultimately to protect the safety of our communities and of course our players.
"If anyone is feeling unwell, you should stay at home, that's simple advice, that's good advice.
"Keep turning up to the events, come to our games and obviously if you can't come to them, they're live on television so you can have a great night watching your footy."
Media will not be permitted in the sheds, while host broadcasters will have access to certain areas only.
The RLPA has been in close contact with the NRL regarding its approach to COVID-19.
"We will continue to collaborate with the NRL to ensure our members remain informed of the collective action that is being taken to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 within the community," an RLPA spokesperson said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said if fans were worried about attending matches they should stay at home.
"Unless they hear otherwise they should proceed as usual," Berejiklian said. "But I do note the extra advice provided by the [NSW] chief medical officer and that is if you've been overseas and you're unwell you should exclude yourself from those mass gatherings."
Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for COVID-19 and will undergo a 14-day quarantine, along with teammates and coaching staff with the Italian Serie A championship-winning side.
Rugani, who was on the bench in last weekend's match against Inter Milan, is the first Italian player diagnosed with the virus but German club Hannover 96 has also announced a member of its team had COVID-19.
International travel for Super League clubs has been affected after the French government banned gatherings of more than 1000 people and Catalans were forced to refund tickets for this weekend's match in Perpignan.
Self-quarantined Fremantle Dockers player Sam Switkowski was cleared of COVID-19 on Tuesday after fears he had contracted the virus from a friend who had recently visited China.
Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have also tested positive to coronavirus while on holiday on the Gold Coast.
The Hollywood star posted on Twitter to announce his diagnosis.
pic.twitter.com/pgybgIYJdG
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks)
March 12, 2020
Warriors take travel precautions
Warriors players flying from Auckland to Sydney on Thursday for Saturday night's match in Newcastle reported no unusual travel issues but the club is taking no chances.
Each member of the squad has been given an individual medical pack, with anti-bacterial sprays and gels, although the players were not issues masks to wear on their flight from New Zealand, which has not had any new COVID-19 cases for five days .
"We've had our medical team come in, they have spoken to us twice now," Warriors coach Stephem Kearney. "We are taking every precaution that we can, to make sure someone in the group doesn't catch it.
"We will keep our fingers crossed there. I think we only have five cases here in New Zealand and we want to keep it that way. It's important, because if one of us gets it it's going to be a challenge to get him to play [so] it has to be taken seriously."
